The best photos from every single year of Prince Harry's remarkable life

Alison Millington,Mikhaila FrielSep 16, 2024, 22:16 IST

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visited Colombia in August 2024.Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty Images

The Duke of Sussex celebrated his 40th birthday on Sunday.
Prince Harry is fifth in line to the British throne and resides in California.

Prince Harry was born on September 15, 1984. Here he is as a newborn with his mother, Princess Diana, and brother, Prince William.

The Princess of Wales and Prince William had their first official photo with Prince Harry shortly after his birth.AP

Harry spent his childhood in London's Kensington Palace and was photographed in the playroom in October 1985.

Prince Harry was raised in Kensington Palace in London.Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

The British royals and Spanish royals often vacationed together. Harry was seen with Queen Sofia and King Juan Carlos of Spain, Prince William, Prince Charles, and Princess Diana at the Marivent Palace in July 1986.

The Prince and Princess of Wales vacationed with the Spanish royal family when Prince William and Prince Harry were children.Michel Lipchitz / AP

The British royals and Spanish royals often vacationed together. Harry was seen with Queen Sofia and King Juan Carlos of Spain, Prince William, Prince Charles, and Princess Diana at the Marivent Palace in July 1986.

The Princess of Wales and Harry embraced while visiting the Royal Palace in Mallorca in August 1987.

Harry often accompanied Diana on oversees trips.AP / John Redman

Prince Harry had his first day of nursery school in in September 1987.

Prince Harry attended nursery school in Notting Hill in London.AP

The family took a bike ride around the island of Tresco, one of the Scilly Isles, in June 1989.

Princess Diana, Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry's family trips were often captured by photographers.AP

Harry helped bury Princess Diana's legs in the sand on Richard Branson's Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands in April 1990.

Necker Island was one of the family's favorite vacation spots.AP/Elise Amendola

A 6-year-old Harry smiled at the wheel of a Second World War fire engine in London in October 1990.

Harry sat in an old fire engine while attending The Blitz Remembered Service at St Pauls Cathedral in London with Princess Diana.AP/Dave Caulkin

Diana took Harry and William to the Natural History Museum's dinosaur exhibition in April 1992. Charles and Diana separated later that year but stayed married.

The royal family were often gifted flowers by members of the public while attending events and exhibits in London.AP/Gill Allen

Harry showed he was just like any other 8-year-old as he enjoyed Splash Mountain at Walt Disney World in Florida with a family friend in 1993.

Prince Harry blended in with the other children at the famous US theme park.AP/Peter Cosgrove

Diana brought Harry and one of his friends to the British Grand Prix in July 1994.

Harry often accompanied Diana to royal engagements throughout his childhood.Alistair Grant/AP

Harry looked on as Prince William signed the traditional entrance book at Eton College on his first day of school in September 1995.

Prince William attended Eton, a prestigious boarding school near Windsor.AP

Harry joined his father at the Wales v Scotland game in the Five Nation Championship at Cardiff Arms Park in Cardiff in 1996.

Harry accompanies his father, Charles, at a rugby game.Ben Radford/Allsport/Getty

William and Harry bowed their heads as their mother's coffin was taken out of Westminster Abbey following her funeral service on September 6, 1997. The princess was killed in a car crash in Paris on August 31.

Harry and William walked behind Diana's coffin during the funeral.Adam Butler/AP

William and Harry bowed their heads as their mother's coffin was taken out of Westminster Abbey following her funeral service on September 6, 1997. The princess was killed in a car crash in Paris on August 31.

The family of three spent their first Christmas without Diana that year.

Harry, William, and Charles collected gifts from well-wishers at Sandringham.John Stillwell/AP

Prince Charles and Harry vacationed at the Swiss resort of Klosters in January 1999.

Harry and Charles were big fans of skiing vacations.Keystone/AP

William and Harry spent time with their cousin Peter Phillips after a Christmas Day church service in Sandringham, Norfolk, in 2000.

Harry, William, and Peter at the Queen's Sandringham estate.AP/Fiona Hanson

William and Harry shared a joke as they celebrated the 101st birthday of the Queen Mother, their great-grandmother, in August 2001.

The royal family celebrated the birthday of the Queen Mother, mother to Queen Elizabeth II.Sion Touhig / Getty

Harry walked behind the Gun Carriage bearing the coffin of the Queen Mother at her funeral on April 9, 2002.

The Queen Mother died on March 30, 2002.Anthony Harvey / Getty

Harry played with Rosie and Jenny, the dogs owned by Andrew Gailey — the housemaster of the Manor House — in March 2003 at Eton.

Prince Harry attended Eton, the private boarding school also attended by his brother.Kirsty Wigglesworth / Getty

Harry performed in "Much Ado About Nothing" in March 2003 at Eton College, England.

Harry took center stage for his role in the school adaption of the Shakespeare play.Getty

Harry carried a garbage bag full of belongings as he graduated from Eton College in June 2003.

Harry completed his education at Eton in 2003.an Waldie / Getty Images

Harry held an Echidna called Spike in front of Sydney Harbour during a trip to Australia in September 2003.

Harry made an official visit to Sydney after graduating.Daniel Berehulak / Getty

In 2005, Harry undertook volunteer engagements in Lesotho. He would later create Sentebale, a charity that supports vulnerable young people in southern Africa.

Prince Harry undertook volunteer work in Lesotho.ROTA/Anwar Hussein Collection/Getty Images

Harry took part in the passing-out Sovereign's Parade at Sandhurst Military Academy in April 2006.

Prince Harry spent a decade in the armed forces.Anwar Hussein / Getty

Harry kissed his then-girlfriend Chelsy Davy during the ICC Cricket World Cup in St John's, Antigua, in 2007.

Prince Harry and his girlfriend, Chelsy Davy, were often followed by photographers.Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

William and Harry paid tribute to their mother at the Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium in July 2007, which marked 10 years since her death.

Harry was joined onstage by his older brother at the concert paying tribute to their mother.Getty

In 2008, Harry attended a Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving at the Holy Trinity Church in Windsor.

Prince Harry wore military uniform for the special service.Ben Stansall / Getty

In 2009, Harry paid his respects after laying a wreath at Ground Zero, the site of the former World Trade Center.

Prince Harry visited the site of the 9/11 attacks during a visit to New York City.Chris Ison / Getty

The prince was sprayed with Champagne by a Sentebale teammate after they triumphed over the Blackwatch team during the 2009 Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic in May 2009.

Prince Harry founded the charity Sentebale in 2006.Chris Jackson / Getty

The prince was sprayed with Champagne by a Sentebale teammate after they triumphed over the Blackwatch team during the 2009 Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic in May 2009.

Harry shared a joke with William and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall as they arrived for Trooping The Colour, the Queen's birthday parade, in 2009.

Prince Harry, William, and Camilla attended the Queen's annual birthday parade.Dan Kitwood / Getty Images

Harry has made several trips to Lesotho over the years, and in 2010, he visited the Herd Boys School in Semongkong.

Prince Harry took various trips to Lesotho.Arthur Edwards / Getty

In 2011, Harry skied with the Walking with the Wounded team before setting off to the North Pole by foot in Spitsbergen, Norway.

Prince Harry has always enjoyed skiing.David Cheskin/WPA Pool/Getty Images

The following year, Harry posed with Usain Bolt in Kingston, Jamaica.

Prince Harry has met with several notable people, from athletes to politicians and movie stars.Chris Jackson / Getty

Harry, William, and Kate Middleton played with wands on the 'Harry Potter' set at Warner Bros. Studios in April 2013.

Harry, William, and Kate enrolled at Hogwarts for the day.Paul Rogers / Getty

Harry attended the Free The Children's global youth empowerment event, We Day, at Wembley Arena in March 2014.

Harry was often required to make speeches during his time as a working royal.Anthony Harvey/Getty Images for Free The Children

Harry was presented with a sword and shield as he met traditional Omani Dancers during a visit to Oman in November 2014.

The prince made a three-day visit to Muscat, Oman.Chris Jackson / Getty

Queen Elizabeth II and Harry shared an embrace as they attended the annual Chelsea Flower Show at Royal Hospital Chelsea in May 2015.

Harry had a close relationship with his grandmother, The Queen.Julian Simmonds / Getty

Harry often met political figures and world leaders during his time as a working royal, and in 2015 he was hosted by Barack Obama in the Oval Office of the White House.

Harry met with Obama on several occasions.Win McNamee / Getty

Harry met patients at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital during a visit to Bridgetown, Barbados in 2016.

Harry smiled and chatted with hospital patients during an official visit to Barbados.Chris Radburn / Getty

Harry had a photo call with then-fiancée Meghan Markle on the same day the couple announced their engagement to the world.

Harry and Meghan had their first royal appearance together at Kensington Palace.Chris Jackson / Getty

The new Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared their first kiss after marrying at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on May 19, 2018.

The couple became The Duke and Duchess of Sussex.Ben Stansall / Getty

The newlyweds had an official wedding photo with the royal family in The Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's wedding was attended by the royal family.Alexi Lubomirski/The Duke and Duchess of Sussex via Getty Images

In July 2018, Meghan and Harry shared a kiss — and a trophy — after a successful Sentebale Polo match at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club.

The couple shared some rare PDA at one of their first public appearances after the wedding.Chris Jackson / Getty

Less than two weeks ahead of his 34th birthday, Harry goofed around with the Riverside School Choir at the annual WellChild awards in London.

Prince Harry was a patron of the WellChild awards.Victoria Jones / Getty

Harry and Meghan gave the world a look at their first child, baby Archie, who was born on May 6, 2019.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor was born in London in 2019.Getty / Pool

The royal family posed for a photo after Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor was christened at Windsor Castle in July 2019.

The royal family came together at Windsor Castle after the christening ceremony.Chris Allerton/Getty Images

The family of three made a rare appearance together during their royal tour of South Africa. The trip marked Archie's first official royal engagement.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and their son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor undertook a royal tour of South Africa in September 2019.Pool/Samir Hussein via Getty Images

During the same tour, the Duke of Sussex paid tribute to Princess Diana's legacy by walking through a minefield in Angola, just like she did in 1997.

Samir Hussein/ WireImage/ Getty Images

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their "step back" from royal duties on January 8, 2020.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visited Canada House in January 2020 before announcing their step back.Daniel Leal-Olivas—WPA Pool/Getty Images

Prince Harry and Meghan attended their final royal engagement with William and Kate at London's Westminster Abbey in March 2020.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined the royal family at a Commonwealth Day service.Phil Harris/Pool via AP Images

Shortly after relocating to California, Harry and Meghan volunteered with Baby2Baby in Los Angeles in August 2020.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry continued with charity work after leaving royal life.Christian Monterrosa for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex

Harry and Meghan gave a tell-all TV interview about their royal exit to Oprah Winfrey, which aired in the US on March 7, 2020.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle spoke to Oprah Winfrey about their time in the royal family.CBS

Harry reunited with William in the UK to unveil a statue of Princess Diana at Kensington Palace on what would have been her 60th birthday in July 2020.

William and Harry paid tribute to their late mother on her birthday.Dominic Lipinski /Pool Photo via AP

Harry and Meghan returned to the UK briefly in June 2022 for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations with Archie and their daughter, Lilibet, who was born the year before.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral on June 3, 2022 in London, England.Karwai Tang/WireImage

Harry and Meghan returned to the UK briefly in June 2022 for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations with Archie and their daughter, Lilibet, who was born the year before.

In September, they made another visit to the UK for Queen Elizabeth's funeral and memorial events. In this photo, Harry stands as other family members salute.

The Duke of Sussex attended a memorial service for Queen Elizabeth II.HANNAH MCKAY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The couple glammed up for the Ms. Foundation Women of Vision Awards in May 2023.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended the Ms. Foundation Women of Vision Awards in May 2023.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

The couple have taken several international trips in 2024, including a three-day visit to Nigeria (pictured) in May and a tour of Columbia in August.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle watch a performance at Lightway Academy in Nigeria in May 2024.Andrew Esiebo/Getty Images for The Archewell Foundation

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The best photos from every single year of Prince Harry's remarkable life

Prince Harry was born on September 15, 1984. Here he is as a newborn with his mother, Princess Diana, and brother, Prince William.

Harry spent his childhood in London's Kensington Palace and was photographed in the playroom in October 1985.

The British royals and Spanish royals often vacationed together. Harry was seen with Queen Sofia and King Juan Carlos of Spain, Prince William, Prince Charles, and Princess Diana at the Marivent Palace in July 1986.

The Princess of Wales and Harry embraced while visiting the Royal Palace in Mallorca in August 1987.

Prince Harry had his first day of nursery school in in September 1987.

The family took a bike ride around the island of Tresco, one of the Scilly Isles, in June 1989.

Harry helped bury Princess Diana's legs in the sand on Richard Branson's Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands in April 1990.

A 6-year-old Harry smiled at the wheel of a Second World War fire engine in London in October 1990.

Diana took Harry and William to the Natural History Museum's dinosaur exhibition in April 1992. Charles and Diana separated later that year but stayed married.

Harry showed he was just like any other 8-year-old as he enjoyed Splash Mountain at Walt Disney World in Florida with a family friend in 1993.

Diana brought Harry and one of his friends to the British Grand Prix in July 1994.

Harry looked on as Prince William signed the traditional entrance book at Eton College on his first day of school in September 1995.

Harry joined his father at the Wales v Scotland game in the Five Nation Championship at Cardiff Arms Park in Cardiff in 1996.

William and Harry bowed their heads as their mother's coffin was taken out of Westminster Abbey following her funeral service on September 6, 1997. The princess was killed in a car crash in Paris on August 31.

The family of three spent their first Christmas without Diana that year.

Prince Charles and Harry vacationed at the Swiss resort of Klosters in January 1999.

William and Harry spent time with their cousin Peter Phillips after a Christmas Day church service in Sandringham, Norfolk, in 2000.

William and Harry shared a joke as they celebrated the 101st birthday of the Queen Mother, their great-grandmother, in August 2001.

Harry walked behind the Gun Carriage bearing the coffin of the Queen Mother at her funeral on April 9, 2002.

Harry played with Rosie and Jenny, the dogs owned by Andrew Gailey — the housemaster of the Manor House — in March 2003 at Eton.

Harry performed in "Much Ado About Nothing" in March 2003 at Eton College, England.

Harry carried a garbage bag full of belongings as he graduated from Eton College in June 2003.

Harry held an Echidna called Spike in front of Sydney Harbour during a trip to Australia in September 2003.

In 2005, Harry undertook volunteer engagements in Lesotho. He would later create Sentebale, a charity that supports vulnerable young people in southern Africa.

Harry took part in the passing-out Sovereign's Parade at Sandhurst Military Academy in April 2006.

Harry kissed his then-girlfriend Chelsy Davy during the ICC Cricket World Cup in St John's, Antigua, in 2007.

William and Harry paid tribute to their mother at the Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium in July 2007, which marked 10 years since her death.

In 2008, Harry attended a Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving at the Holy Trinity Church in Windsor.

In 2009, Harry paid his respects after laying a wreath at Ground Zero, the site of the former World Trade Center.

The prince was sprayed with Champagne by a Sentebale teammate after they triumphed over the Blackwatch team during the 2009 Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic in May 2009.

Harry shared a joke with William and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall as they arrived for Trooping The Colour, the Queen's birthday parade, in 2009.

Harry has made several trips to Lesotho over the years, and in 2010, he visited the Herd Boys School in Semongkong.

In 2011, Harry skied with the Walking with the Wounded team before setting off to the North Pole by foot in Spitsbergen, Norway.

The following year, Harry posed with Usain Bolt in Kingston, Jamaica.

Harry, William, and Kate Middleton played with wands on the 'Harry Potter' set at Warner Bros. Studios in April 2013.

Harry attended the Free The Children's global youth empowerment event, We Day, at Wembley Arena in March 2014.

Harry was presented with a sword and shield as he met traditional Omani Dancers during a visit to Oman in November 2014.

Queen Elizabeth II and Harry shared an embrace as they attended the annual Chelsea Flower Show at Royal Hospital Chelsea in May 2015.

Harry often met political figures and world leaders during his time as a working royal, and in 2015 he was hosted by Barack Obama in the Oval Office of the White House.

Harry met patients at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital during a visit to Bridgetown, Barbados in 2016.

Harry had a photo call with then-fiancée Meghan Markle on the same day the couple announced their engagement to the world.

The new Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared their first kiss after marrying at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on May 19, 2018.

The newlyweds had an official wedding photo with the royal family in The Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle.

In July 2018, Meghan and Harry shared a kiss — and a trophy — after a successful Sentebale Polo match at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club.

Less than two weeks ahead of his 34th birthday, Harry goofed around with the Riverside School Choir at the annual WellChild awards in London.

Harry and Meghan gave the world a look at their first child, baby Archie, who was born on May 6, 2019.

The royal family posed for a photo after Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor was christened at Windsor Castle in July 2019.

The family of three made a rare appearance together during their royal tour of South Africa. The trip marked Archie's first official royal engagement.

During the same tour, the Duke of Sussex paid tribute to Princess Diana's legacy by walking through a minefield in Angola, just like she did in 1997.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their "step back" from royal duties on January 8, 2020.

Prince Harry and Meghan attended their final royal engagement with William and Kate at London's Westminster Abbey in March 2020.

Shortly after relocating to California, Harry and Meghan volunteered with Baby2Baby in Los Angeles in August 2020.

Harry and Meghan gave a tell-all TV interview about their royal exit to Oprah Winfrey, which aired in the US on March 7, 2020.

Harry reunited with William in the UK to unveil a statue of Princess Diana at Kensington Palace on what would have been her 60th birthday in July 2020.

Harry and Meghan returned to the UK briefly in June 2022 for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations with Archie and their daughter, Lilibet, who was born the year before.

In September, they made another visit to the UK for Queen Elizabeth's funeral and memorial events. In this photo, Harry stands as other family members salute.

The couple glammed up for the Ms. Foundation Women of Vision Awards in May 2023.

The couple have taken several international trips in 2024, including a three-day visit to Nigeria (pictured) in May and a tour of Columbia in August.